It is a sound that will make the depths of hell shiver. S.H.I.V. return with some hardcore death metal, but it’s not the way you imagine it. This is significantly more complex, detailed, and much more hard-hitting than anything else the band has ever put out. With a lineup change and production and mastering coming from industry legends, you are going to listen to a sound that is truly breathtaking. This is their latest EP: Screams from Underground. We also got to ask the band a few questions. Read the interview as well, below.
Lineup changes and composing
Tell us about your experience composing after The Only Way to Escape is to Die. How has the band’s approach changed since then?
The band went through a prolonged writing stage because we lost two members since our last recording THE ONLY WAY TO ESCAPE IS TO DIE. Ryan Forist came in on bass, and Krishna Peri is our new guitarist. Any time there is a lineup change, it alters the songwriting dynamic in a band. We had one completed song for the new EP under the old lineup (Sisyphus) and otherwise started from scratch. We honed in on bringing out the two main elements that are the linchpins to the band’s sound: combining old-school hardcore riffs within death metal songwriting. Both Ryan and Krishna are enthusiastic new additions and came in with a lot of great ideas, so it really made the process go smoothly. The new songs are dynamic and crushing, and they killed it in the studio.
The EP is opened up with “Guilty No Matter What.” It is a dooming, slow riff that hits you first, with an immediate shift in vibe, definitely heard with the lineup change. This is something S.H.I.V. takes pride in, bringing together a band where the chemistry relays how the music will sound. You can see the evil setting in, with the crushing volume being mastered in the tone itself. The new crew is ready for cruising, and the opening track is a great litmus test.
Also read: From Bangalore Open Air to Wacken – Salman U Syed on Building a Future for Indian Metal
About the new tracks
Sisyphus is the prolonged journey of suffering we all seem to be stuck in. What were your intentions while composing this track?
Sisyphus is a modern retelling of the Greek myth of the man cursed to roll a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down as soon as it gets to the top. It seemed an appropriate metaphor for modern existence, especially as told through the eyes of a working stiff trying to work up the nerve to face each day. Everyone has these moments of feeling overwhelmed when life gets tough, and there’s a universality to the myth. That mixed with the simple, driving riff made it a natural fit for the band.
Then comes the crowning piece of the album, Sisyphus. David Gonzalez does an incredible job making a visual masterpiece with the lyric video. It not only shows the technical prowess S.H.I.V. carries, but the detailed way in which they compose. Brutal attacks of riffing are paired with energetic drum parts by David Cruz. It is a tempo that grabs you by the neck and spins you around. I had to physically stop myself from moshing in the living room. Intense track, guys.
Recording and visualising new work
The legendary Machine would have understood and extracted all the energy you wanted from the track the way you had imagined it. How was it working with such a pioneer of the industry?
It was an exceptionally smooth process working with Sam Paquette of S.A.M. Recording Studios in the recording and mixing of the album and with Machine in the mastering. We knew what we wanted, but both of them are high-class professionals that really brought out the best in us. Everyone in the band has previous studio experience working with our other bands, and this was by far the best experience we’ve had yet. Sam is an accomplished guitarist in his own right and a gear head, so he knows all the technical requirements necessary for a good recording. And Machine locked in on the vision we had for the album as soon as we told him. It all came together quickly and painlessly. We were blown away by how heavy and big it sounds.
The track Three Brothers marks the middle of this EP. Armed with quick tempo changes, it matches the lyrical detail they have captured in the song. The riff is incredibly catchy, carries and uplifts the power the song has as well. Krishna Peri cements himself as a talented new replacement that carries the flame on in more than spirit.
Inspired work for the new album
What can fans expect from the upcoming album “Screams from the Underground”?
This new 5-song EP (4 original songs and 1 cover) is the clearest distillation of our sound yet and will be extremely tough to top. It is the best version of hardcore death we could create, featuring crushing riffs, brutal vocals, and an oppressive atmosphere of existential pain and despair. To sum up, it’s bleak and hard-hitting.
About the visual direction of the lyrical video – do you think David Gonzalez exceeded expectations of the mythological perspective?
The animated lyric video for Sisyphus is a terrific encapsulation of the song, getting the vibe and tone of the song exactly right. We gave extensive notes on what we wanted, and the finished product looks fantastic. Overall, every element of the album process has been extraordinarily smooth. We also have a proper music video in the works for the next single and are in pre-production for it. It’s important to convey our vision for the band to the audience, and that means taking control of every aspect of the release. Sisyphus embraces the Greek mythological elements, and in the next video we’ll be going for more of an industrial wasteland aesthetic.
S.H.I.V. carrying the flames
The attack doesn’t stop. City of the Possessed comes in next, and it doesn’t hold back from the get-go. The band not only likes to think in terms of song composition but also of how much energy this expedites when played live. It is an intensive process. It showcases to what detail and with what layers they are willing to think and create the kind of passionate response from the listener they would want to see. You can see S.H.I.V trail to new heights, all thanks to their efforts in garnering a genuine, organic fanbase of people who really want to experience the rage and range they capture.
Dostoyevsky is a core inspiration for themes for S.H.I.V. What work would you call definitive in explaining the purpose and themes behind this upcoming album?
There’s not one single work of his that stands out more than the others as far as this recording goes. We have a song called Three Brothers on the EP that is influenced by his novel The Brothers Karamazov, and City Of The Possessed is influenced by The Devils. Obviously, the title is a play on his novella Notes From Underground. So we draw more from his philosophical perspective than any singular work. And I highlight that our songs are influenced by him, but they are not direct translations of his plots.
Each song takes an element and expands on it, incorporating a modern storyline into his existential insights. To put plainly, the writings of Dostoyevsky are a starting point, and we create from there to tell original stories within the songs. The listener doesn’t need to know anything about his writings to enjoy the songs, but hopefully if they like what they hear, they may be inspired to check out some of what the great Russian writer has to say about mankind and the nature of existence. We are not putting on airs; we just have an honest appreciation for literature and hope listeners are looking for something a little different to go along with their heavy riffs.
Conclusion
Closing with Age of Quarrel, you can already hear this becoming a live favourite for fans. From the drum opening like a marching drum, the riff has a melodic rhythm that etches itself like a tattoo. The band show their entire stylistic pivot, the kind of beastly rhythms and tunes they can make and their ambition with this EP. Can’t wait for more from the Dallax, TX beasts. Listen to the album here:
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